Folding box construction



July 28, 1936. J, R MILLER 7 2,049,168

July 28, 1936.

X CONSTRUCTION FOLD NG BO Filed M II I- I A Patented July 28, 1936 UNE'E'ED STATES smear or ies 11 Claims.

This invention relates to folding box constructions and particularly to shipping containers of the type shown in my Patent No. 1,987,305, issued January 8, 1935.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a folding box construction having an improved interlocking reinforcing means for strengthening the joints between the bottom and the sides; to provide an improved fol-ding box construction in which transversely superposed mats interlock with each other upon being folded to form the box; and to provide an improved folding box having an interlocking double bottom construction arranged to prevent lengthwise shifting of one bottom relative to the other without the use of nails or other such fastening means.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an improved folding box partially assembled.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the same showing the construction of the top edges and a method of applying a cover.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of the same showing a bottom corner and the interlocking feature of the double bottom.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the same partially broken away and including a separable cover.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 55 of-Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing superposed folding box mats having a modified arrangement of interlocking bottom end cleats.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective'view of an assembled box showing a bottom corner and the modified interlocking cleat arrangement, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a folding box corner from a different angle showing another modification of the interlocking cleats and the relationship of the interlocking features at the top and bottom of the box.

In the form shown in the drawings the folding box is constructed of two mats, one comprising a bottom I and two sides or side walls sections 2 and 3 of the box and the other comprising a second bottom 4 and the two ends or end wall sections 5 and 6 of the box, the latter mat being placed on top of the first mat so that the bottom sections substantially coincide and the ends and sides being folded upwardly at right angles to assemble the box. This box construction is substantially the same asthe type described in my Patent No. 1,987,305, and each of thematscomprising the box 'arepreferably manufactured by machine in'the-manner described in the said patent, and are shipped flat to the user who assembles the box as above described.

As shown in the drawings each mat comprises a plurality of panels made of wood veneer or other suitable material arranged to form the side 5 and bottom sections of the box and tied together in the mat by suitable cleats i and 8 which extend transversely of the respective mat on one side thereof, and which are secured by means of wire staples disposed so that one leg of each staple is on each side of the joint between the mat sections.

As shown in Fig. 1 the mat which comprises the inner bottom 4 and the two end portions 5 and 6 of the box is placed on top of the mat comprising 15 the outer bottom I and the two side portions 2 and 3 of the box. The cleats 8 extending transversely of the bottom section 4, however, are formed so as to project beyond each of the side edges of that bottom section, and in order to accommodate these projecting cleat portions when folding up the box sides 2 and 3, to assemble the box, the cleats l and the panels making up the box sides are cut out, as at 9, at places opposite the ends of the cleats 8 as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5.

As shown in Fig. 5 the cleat 1 is formed with a groove ill between the mat sections, which groove is disposed nearer the bottom section I than the adjacent side section so that when the side section is folded upwardly the cleat 1 will bend near the center permitting the edge of the side section to be lifted over the edge of the center section and abut the face thereof.

While such an arrangement is not shown, the cleats 8 joining the mat sections are preferably, likewise, arranged to bend on a predetermined line longitudinal of the cleats and intermediate the parallelly adjacent section edges in the manner disclosed in my aforementioned Patent No. 1,987,305. However, it will be understood that so far as the present invention is concerned the several cleats joining the wall sections of the mats to the bottom sections thereof may or may not be provided with grooves st antially equivalent to the combined thickness when the mats are folded upwardly togetherto form a box, the ends of the cleats 8 will be-securely engaged in the cut-out portions 9 to rigidly tie the two bottom panels of the box mats together.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the extra heavy cleats H and I2, which are secured along the outer or top edges of the side and end'sections.

respectively to reinforce the same, project outwardly beyondthe side edges of these sections and are cut out or provided with: sinkings l3 and .l llres'pectively so as to fit over and engage each other in 'shiplap fashion to provide a square halving joint. Thus upon the box being assembled and the cleats secured together many suitablefashion' they will tendtoreinforce each other at their ends against either lateralor endwise inward thrusts.

'Also, as shown in the drawings the cut outs or sinkings l3 and I4 are located so that the remaining projecting portions or tongues l5 of the end cleats l2 will fit below the similar tongues l6 of the side cleats ll. Thus, since in handling the shipping container or box, in use, it is. picked up by the top end cleats, the vertical load willbe transmitted in part to the side cleats without putting any extraordinaryload on the fastening means securing the top cleats to each other. I This combination of interlocking cleats at both the -top and bottom of the. box servesto provide; a more rigid and stronger structure than the usual folding shipping co ntainer and; also provides a greater resistance to racking than the ordinary construction. Y

' While a. well known. wirefastening means is shown for locking the corners of the box sections together upon -assembly and forv tieing the top I-l onto; thebo x it will be understood that any suitablefastening means maybe. employed such as nails'or staples or the like, the wire fastening means shown comprising merely two wire loops, one long and one-short, the long loop being arranged to pass throughtheshort loop and simply bent over through inorder to make the, fastening.

In. the modified forms of this invention shown inFigs. 6, 7, and 8, the cleats I and 8 which join the wall sections to the respective bottom sections are arranged so that they interlock.in substantially the'same' manner as the top cleats H and I2, that is the projecting portions of the cleats! and BeX-tend from the upturned part of the cleat or the part resting against therespec tive wall sections andv overlap' each other vertically, one above the other;.

In the form shown in Figs. 6 and '7 the projecting portions or the tongues I8 of the-cleats I arepositioned intermediate the side edges of thecleats and, so that they will be adjacentthe line of fold or bend of the cleat,between the bottom and side wall panels that are secured together the; same, 7 andthe projecting. portions or tongues IQ of the cleats 8 are positioned adjacent the side edge of the cleat that is folded or bent upwardly with the end panels 5 and 6 when the box is assembled. Thus when the wall panels of the box are folded upwardly the tongues l9 of the end cleats 8 will rest vertically above the tongues l8 of the side cleats 1. As shown the tongues rest in oppositely located sinkings or cut-out portions of the abutting cleats so that when the box is assembled the lower corner joint of the same will have the appearance 'of' a square halving joint the same as the joints between the top cleats II and 12.

In the form shown in Fig. 8 the vertical position of the tongues projecting from the ends of the cleats l and 8 are reversed from the ar rangeinent shown in Figs. 6 and 7, so that the tongue. 20 of the cleat 1 will be disposed above the tongue 2| of the cleat 8 when the box is assembled-. With this arrangement the upper bottom sectiou is locked against the lower bottom section to prevent vertical separation of the said sections as .well as endwise shifting of the same. Thus the theory of the positioningof the tongues .of the top cleats, so that a lift load applied to the end, cleats I2 will be transmitted to the side cleats II, is carried out in substantially the same mannerin the arrangement of the tongueswof the bottom cleats 1 and 8.

The main advantageoimy improved box construction lies in the increased rigidity and strength of the bottom portion and the added reinforcement against end-wise loads or strains. Thus without any increaseinmaterial or weight the total capacity of the box, so far as weight of contents is concerned, is substantially increased, widening considerably the scope-of its use and decreasing the packaging cost for heavy products and materials, I

Also the self-interlocking feature of the doublebottoms obviates the-necessity of nailing ,or stapling the-bottoms together during assembly-ofthe box.: and reduces the time and labor required for, that-operation.

Although-but one specific embodiment of this invention is,herein shown and described,.it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown'may be-alteredor omitted without-departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim: 7

1. A shipping container comprising a bottom panel section, a side panel section attached to said-bottom pa-nel section, said side: panel section having an aperturegformed therein adjacent the joint; between said side panel section and said bottom panel section, a. second bottompanel section superposed upon the first bottom panel section, and a cleat secured' tosaid second-bottom panel sectionandextending transversely thereof, said cleat extending beyond the'side of said second bottom,;panel section and through the said aperture in said side panelsection,

2. A shippingpcontainer comprising a bottom panel section,:side panel sections attached to opposite sides of said bottom panel section, said side -panel-sections each having an aperture formed therein adjacent: the joint between the side panel-'section'and said bottompanel section, said apertures being located substantially opposite each other', a' second, bottom panel section superposed upon the;first-bottom panel section, and -acleat secured to saidsecond bottom panel section V and, extending transversely thereof, said cl etfixt ndin lbeyond;eachside.of; said second tures in said side panel sections.

3. A shipping container'comprising a bottom panel section, side panel sections attached to opposite sides 'of said bottom-panel section, said side panelsections each having a plurality of spaced apertures formed therein adjacent the joint between the side'panel'section and said bottom panel section, the apertures of one side panel section being located opposite the apertures of the other side panel section, a second bottom panel section disposed upon the first bottom panel section,*and-'a plurality of spaced cleats secured to said second bottom panel section and extending transversely thereof, said cleats extending beyond each side of said second bottom panel section and through respective ones of said apertures in said side panel sections.

4. A shipping container of the class described comprising two fiat mats arranged to be placed one on top of the other in crossed relation and the projecting end portions turned upwardly to provide walls, each of said mats comprising a bottom panel section and two oppositely disposed wall sections secured together by relatively narrow cleats overlapping the parallelly adjacent edges, said cleats being adapted to bend on a longitudinal line intermediate the parallelly adjacent edges of said sections, and the cleats on one mat having their ends projecting beyond the edges thereof and arranged to engage in cut out portions in the cleats of the other mat when the wall sections of said mats are turned upwardly to assemble said container.

5. A shipping container of the class described comprising two flat mats arranged to be placed one on top of the other in crossed relation and the projecting end portions turned upwardly to provide walls, each of said mats comprising a bottom panel section and two oppositely disposed wall sections secured together by relatively narrow cleats overlapping the parallelly adjacent edges, said cleats being adapted to bend on a longitudinal line intermediate the parallelly adja cent edges of said sections, the cleats of one mat having their ends projecting beyond the edges thereof, the cleats of the other mat having cut out portions positioned to receive the said projecting ends of the first cleats when the wall sections of said mats are turned upwardly to assemble said container, and another cleat disposed along the end edge of each of said mats, each of said other cleats having its ends projecting beyond the side edges of the respective mats and said ends having sinkings cut therein so as to fit over each other vertically when said wall sections are turned upwardly at right angles to the said bottom panel sections.

6. A shipping container of the class described wherein two fiat mats are placed one on top of the other in crossed relation and the projecting end portions turned upwardly to provide walls, the lower of said mats comprising a bottom panel section and two side wall sections and the upper of said mats comprising a bottom panel section and two end wall sections, the several sections of each mat being secured together by transverse cleats overlapping the parallelly adjacent edges of said sections and adapted to bend on a line intermediate the said adjacent edges, the cleats of the upper mats having their ends projecting beyond the edges thereof, and the cleats of the lower mat having cut out portions positioned to receive the projecting ends of the upper mat 3 cleats when the wall sections of said mats are turned upwardly to assemble said container.

7. A shipping container of the class described wherein two fiat mats are placed one on top of the other in crossed relation and the projecting 5 end portions turned upwardly to provide walls, the lower of said mats comprising a bottom panel section and two side wall sections and the upper of said mats comprising a bottom panel section "and two end wall sections, the several sections 10 of each matbeing secured together by transverse cleats overlapping the parallelly adjacent edges of said sections and adapted to bend on a line intermediate the said adjacent edges, a plurality of spaced cleats secured to the bottom panel sec- 15 tion of the upper mat and positioned intermediate and parallel with the first mentioned cleats, the cleats of the upper mat having their ends projecting beyond the edges thereof, and the cleats of the lower mat having cut out portions 20 positioned to receive the projecting ends of the upper mat cleats when the wall sections of said mats are turned upwardly to assemble said container.

8. A shipping container of the class described 25 wherein two flat mats are placed one on top of the other in crossed relation and the projecting end portions turned upwardly to provide walls, the lower of said mats comprising a bottom panel section and two side wall sections and the upper 3 of said mats comprising a bottom panel section and two end wall sections, the several sections of each mat being secured together by transverse cleats overlapping the parallelly adjacent edges of said sections, and adapted to bend on a line 35 intermediate the said adjacent edges, the cleats of the upper mat having their ends projecting beyond the edges thereof, the cleats of the lower mat having cut out portions positioned to receive the projecting ends of the upper mat cleats when 40 the wall sections of said mats are turned upwardly to assemble said container, and another cleat disposed along the top edge of each of said wall sections, each of said other cleats having its ends projecting beyond the side edges of the respective 45 sections and said projecting ends having sinkings cut therein so that the ends of the side wall cleats will fit vertically over the ends of the end wall cleats when said container is assembled.

9. A shipping container of the class described 50 wherein two fiat mats are placed one on top of the other in crossed relation and the projecting end portions turned upwardly to provide walls, the lower of said mats comprising a bottom panel section and two side wall sections and the upper 55 of said mats comprising a bottom panel section and two end wall sections, the several sections of each mat being secured together by transverse cleats overlapping the parallelly adjacent edges of said sections, and adapted to bend on a line 0 intermediate the said adjacent edges, a plurality of spaced cleats secured to the bottom panel section of the upper mat and positioned intermediate and parallel with the first mentioned cleats, the cleats of the upper mat having their ends projecting beyond the edges thereof, the cleats of the lower mat having cut out portions positioned to receive the projecting ends of the upper mat cleats when the wall sections of said mats are turned upwardly to assemble said con- 7 tainer, and another cleat disposed along the top edge of each of said wall sections, each of said other cleats having its ends projecting beyond the side edges of the respective sections and said projecting ends having sinkings cut therein so that the ends of the side wall-cleats will fit vertically :over the ends of the end wall cleats when =said-container isassembled. V

10. A veneer box construction comprising 'a 15 pair of .mats each comprising a bottom panel section anda pairof side wallpanel sections reinforced at their -adjacent edges ;by -fo1dab1e cleats spanning and extending along :the joints-formed by -said adjacentedges, and characterized byhav- -ing the upper-mats bottom panel section reinforced by a transverse cleat extending beyond its edges and by having the lower mats side panel sections recessed to receive the respective ends of said transverse cleat.

1:1. A veneer box construction compnisinggi pair of mats each eomprisinga bottom zpanel -im- -tionand a painof side wall panel sections rein- .iorced at their adjacent edges -by foldable cleats :spanning and extending along the .joints formed :pane'l-sections-and foldable cleats recessedto re- 1o ceive the respective -ends-of said transverse elen.

J OHN TMILLER. 

